British English A to Z - past 5

165 haar, n. sea mist Cold sea fog on the east coast of England and Scotland. haberdashery, n. notions store In America a haberdashery is a men’s outfitter. In Britain it is one of those shops that sell pins, needles, thread, tapes, and a little of this and a little of that. Nowa- days the term is used mainly to describe the merchandise sold in such establish- ments, and, increasingly, in the haberdashery departments of department stores. See also draper’s shop; fancy goods. had for a mug. See mug, 1. haggis, n. see comment A popular English dish until the 18th century, now considered specially Scottish; made of the heart, liver, and lights of a sheep, minced and mixed with oatmeal, suet, and seasoning, and then boiled in the sheep’s stomach. It may be boiled, steamed, baked, fried in slices, or even microwaved; and it tastes much better than it sounds. hairdresser’s, n. 1. barber shop 2. beauty parlor The British term is used for both types of establishment, but nowadays the British male usually talks of going to the barber; the female, to the hairdresser. hair grip hairpin; bobby pin Also hair-slide and kirby grip. hairpin bend, n. switchback half, adv. half past Inf. In expressions of time, e.g., half twelve, meaning ‘half past twelve.’ Half eleven means ‘half past eleven.’ Note that half after is American, as is quarter of, which in Britain is always quarter to. (a) half, n. see comment A half pint of beer. Form of address to a publican. See also (the) other half. half, not. See not half. half, the other. See (the) other half. half-and-half, n. ale and stout mixed But some publicans say it can mean ‘mild and bitter’ mixed, so that when a cus- tomer who is not a regular asks for one, it is wise to request a fuller description. Not as commonly drunk as it was in years gone by. half a tick, Slang. half a minute (right away) h h half-cock. See at half-cock. half-day, n. see comment Day of the week on which shops close for the day at 1:00 p.m. See early closing. half hunter. See under hunter. halfpenny, n. see comment (Pronounced hayp’-ny.) The old one was discontinued on August 1, 1969, as a step in the decimalization of the British currency system. (See Appendix II.A.) A halfpenny or halfpenny’s worth is what a halfpenny will buy; hence, a very small amount. half-term, n. see comment Brief school vacation. See under term. half-yearly, adj., adv. semiannual; semiannually hall, n. large public room In the context of country gentry, hall refers to the ample residence of a landed proprietor in Britain. In British universities a hall is a building for student living or teaching, and in British colleges a common dining-room. When it is equivalent to passage as used in America, it means only an ‘entrance passage.’ In its general sense, hall finds its equivalent in the British word passage. Hall is used in both countries in the names of concert halls, as in Carnegie Hall (New York) and Albert Hall (London). hall of residence dormitory Halt, v.i. Stop The equivalent of an American Stop sign used to be and sometimes still is a Brit- ish road sign reading halt, but stop is now coming into general use. Once in a while Halt appears coupled with a place name to indicate a railroad stop in the middle of nowhere, but near the designated place. hammer, v.t. declare insolvent Inf. And suspend from trading. An informal expression in financial circles, to describe the suspension of a brokerage firm unable to meet its commitments. The verb is derived from the London Stock Exchange practice of declaring a person or firm bankrupt with three taps of a gavel or hammer on the rostrum. hammered, adj. Inf. 1. exhausted Inf. 2. drunk hampton, n. Slang. vulgar. prick Slang. The male member. Shortening of Hampton Wick; cockney rhyming slang. See Appendix II.G.3. Wick is an archaic word meaning ‘town’ or ‘district,’ still found in place names like Hampton Wick, Warwick, etc., and in the word bailiwick, the sphere of operations of a bailie (a Scottish magistrate) or a bailiff (a sheriff’s officer). 166 half-cock hand, n. handwriting As in His hand is impossible to decipher; She writes a fine italic hand. hanger, n. hillside woods This special British meaning is used to describe a wooded area on the side of a steep hill or mountain. hanging matter see comment Inf. Literally, a capital crime for which hanging was the penalty. Used after a negative, usually in the expression It’s not a hanging matter, meaning ‘It’s not all that serious.’ hang up one’s hat Inf. settle down Inf. The context is matrimonial. Hansard, n. see comment The printed reports of Parliamentary debates. Comparable to the Congressional Record. ha’p’orth, n. trifle Inf. (Pronounced hay’-p’th.) Contraction of halfpenny worth, as much as one could buy for a halfpenny in the old days (before August 1, 1969, when the old halfpenny was demonetized). Note the old adage: Don’t spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar, i.e., ‘Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish.’ See also halfpenny; Appendix II.A. happy as a sandboy Inf. happy as a clam Inf. The words at high tide are often added, and always implied, in the American version. A sandboy sold sand. happy as Larry, adj. perfectly content The American equivalent would be happy as a clam. harass see comment Usually pronounced ‘Harris,’ with the noun pronounced harrisment. hard, n. hard labor Slang. In prison, doing hard time. hardbake, n. almond taffy hard-baked, adj. hard-boiled The British use both terms interchangeably. Also, hard-cooked and hard-bitten. Hard cheese! Inf. Tough luck! Slang. meaning bad luck. Occasionally, Hard cheddar!; hard lines! hard-cooked, adj. hard boiled Of eggs, not of people. hard done by Inf. done dirt Inf. Ill-used. hard done by 167 Hard lines! See Hard cheese! hare, put up the. See put up the hare. hare, start a. See start a hare. hare off, Inf. Slang. vamoose Harley Street see comment Used synecdochically to denote the British medical profession at its most special- ized and most expensive. On this street the fashionable private doctors flourish, but note: most of them also work in the National Health Service. Harrovian, n., adj. see comment Of Harrow; a Harrovian is either an inhabitant of Harrow (the town where the famous school is located) or a member of Harrow, the public school which takes its name from the town, whether student or graduate (old boy). Its playing-fields, together with those of Eton, are said to supply the future leaders of Britain. harrow, under the. See under the harrow. Harry . . . see comment This is a word used in conjunction with another word in slang expressions. Why Harry? The only answer obtainable was, Why not? The second word in the com- bination is usually a corrupt form of a standard word. Thus: Harry spaggers is spaghetti; Harry champers (see champers) is champagne; Harry Roughers is a rough sea and Harry Flatters a calm (flat) sea. Harry Blissington is quite marvelous, absolutely glorious. hash mark, n. number sign Hatton Garden the diamond industry Inf. The name of the London street where most of the diamond merchants are located is applied colloquially to designate the industry generally. hat trick triple achievement Slang. Any triple achievement, the bringing off of any series of three successes, like three company acquisitions or a lawyer’s winning three cases in a row. In cricket, a bowler took three wickets with three balls, the triumphant bowler was presented with a new hat. Americans use hat trick when speaking of ice hockey. haulm, also halm, n. see comment (Rhymes with hawm.) A collective noun, meaning the stalks or stems of growing things generally, and especially thatching material. It can be used in a singular sense, too, meaning ‘one stem’ or ‘stalk.’ have a bash at Slang. take a shot at Slang. To have a bash at something is to give it a try. Synonymous with have a go at. See go. have a doss, Slang. Slang. get forty winks 168 Hard lines! have a down on, Inf. Inf. be down on have a go at. See have a bash at. have a mind to. See minded to have an early night, Inf. go to bed early have a quid each way. See under each way have a read be reading Inf. To have a read is settling in a comfortable armchair, and the common expres- sion is have a good read, i.e., be wholly absorbed in that activity. The book is a good read connotes that the book is substantial, entertaining and not too demanding—a phrase now creeping into American reviewers’ jargon. have a rod in pickle for Inf. be laying for To have a rod in pickle for someone is to be nursing a grudge and aching to punish him, and waiting to pounce on him at the first opportunity. Presumably, the pickling solu- tion will keep the rod pliable until it is used. have a slate loose, Slang. Slang. have a screw loose The slates, of course, are on one’s roof. have a time of it Synonymous with have a rare time of it. See under rare. have a word with speak to About a particular matter, with the object of accomplishing something. I’ll have a word with him implies that the speaker is about to try to get something done about something, with a degree of assurance about the outcome. have enough on one’s plate have plenty to do Inf. Often in the expanded form enough on one’s plate as it is. A full plate means the same thing. A form sometimes used is a lot on one’s plate, which connotes the state of being busy rather than overworked. have everything in the shop window. See under shop. have (someone’s) guts for garters Inf. to give (someone) hell Slang. The figurative meaning is of a savage dressing down, perhaps accompa- nied by punishment of some kind (demotion or the like). The literal meaning is even more savage: removing the visceral organs and using them as an article of clothing. Happily, the act is illegal. (to) have had one’s chips Inf. (to) have had it Slang. To be beaten; licked. You’ve had your chips, little man. have (something) in one’s eye Inf. have (something) lined up Slang. Referring, for instance, to a better paying job than the one you have now. have (something) in one’s eye 169 170 have it off have it off 1. Slang. pull (bring) it off 2. win a bet 3. Slang. make it 4. have an affair 1. Slang. Referring to any achievement. 2. Slang. At the track, usually. 3. Slang. With a sexual partner. Sometimes have it away. Both expressions indicate consummation. 4. Slang. Intransitive use, referring to either sex. have jam on it Inf. have it easy Inf. To be in clover, be feeling no pain, etc. To want jam on it is to want egg in your beer. have no mind to Inf. not care a rap about Inf. For example, He is so old that he has no mind to basketball. have no time for Inf. have no use for; not think much of Inf. Americans commonly use the expression: I don’t think much of him, or I have no use for him, where the British might say I have no time for him. Predictably, to have a lot of time for someone is to have a high opinion of him. have (someone) on, Inf. Inf. kid (someone) have (something) on, Inf. Inf. have (something) going have one over the eight Inf. get somewhat tight Inf. When somebody has had one over the eight, he is not terribly drunk but is cer- tainly under the influence. The inference may be that one ought to be able to put away eight pints of beer without effect—no mean feat for the inexperienced beer drinker! have (someone) on toast, Slang. have (someone) at one’s mercy A marvelous metaphor. have (something) put in hand Inf. get (something) under way Inf. If a Briton needed a secretary, he would mention it to friends, apply to agen- cies, and the like, and would thus have the operation put in hand; while an Ameri- can would get it under way. haver, v.i. talk nonsense (Pronounced hay’-ver.) Like blather, with which it is synonymous, it is mainly Scottish, and with an -s added becomes a plural noun meaning nonsense. have square eyes be a television addict have the penny and the bun, Inf. Inf. have your cake and eat it, too have the pull of. See pull. have the wind up. See get the wind up. have (someone) up bring charges against (someone) To bring someone before a court of justice or a government agency. Have you been served? Is someone helping you? Question asked by a salesperson (shop assistant, or simply assistant). Sometimes, Are you being served? head, n. 1. principal; dean 2. top of the bottle 1. Head is a shortening of head teacher, headmaster, or headmistress, all of which terms are used in America where, however, principal is the common term in sec- ondary schools and dean in colleges. Dean, in Britain, usually denotes a church official, although it is sometimes used there in the American sense of a college faculty head or department head. Principal is seldom seen in Britain in this con- nection, where its definitions include, only incidentally, headmaster (of a college). 2. In Britain, the cream still rises to the top of the container and is called the head. As in America, the same word also describes the froth on beer. head boy; head girl approx. top boy; top girl In British schools generally, below the university level, the headmaster (principal), with the recommendations of the staff (faculty), designates one student as the head boy or head girl, as the case may be. This fortunate student is the one who has made the best all-round contribution to school life. The title is an honorable one and involves the burden of exemplary conduct with no special privileges except that of leading the cheers on the occasion of the visit of a notable personage. headlamp, n. headlight See also Appendix II.E. headmaster. See head. headship, n. office of school principal or college dean head teacher, n. school principal health visitor approx. health inspector An official of the local council or the National Health Service who visits homes after childbirths, children’s clinics, schools, and elderly people to check up and advise on matters of health. heaped, adj. heaping Teaspoonful, tablespoon, etc. hearty, n. Slang. jock Inf. A university term for an athlete or sportsman; the opposite of an aesthete. heath, n. wild open land Usually covered with shrubs. The Heath in London refers to Hampstead Heath, a beautiful, very large park in northwest London. Heath Robinson Rube Goldberg Applicable to a mechanical contrivance of amusingly superfluous complexity. heavy gang third-degree squad Slang. Tough police interrogators. The heavy gang or heavy mob are the rough boys in the force. heavy gang 171 he bought the farm his plane was shot down Slang. A very sad bit of R.A.F. argot, for which there would appear to be no American slang equivalent. The expression alludes to the many pilots who were “going to settle down and buy a farm” when the war was all over. In some cases it was all over too soon. He’s bought it has apparently superseded the longer phrase, and it can now refer to a premature death as a result of any disaster, like that of a racing driver in flames. hedge, n. stone wall Inf. A special usage. In some cases the wall is level and wide enough to walk on cross-country. Stone walls may take the place of green hedges. hedgerow, n. a hedge of shrubs bordering a field heel bar while-U-wait shoe repair shop Heinz hound mongrel Slang. Alluding to the 57 varieties of breeds found among its forebears. helter-skelter, n. carnival slide Inf. Upon payment of a small fee, one sits on a mat and travels down a dizzying spiral slide. hemidemisemiquaver, n. sixty-fourth note Musical term. See Appendix II.F. hemlock, n. approx. poison A fatal potion made from a poisonous herb, Conium maculatum (maculatum means ‘spotted’ and the stems of the plant have spots). To a scholar it calls to mind Socrates, whom the Athenian court sentenced to die by drinking a cup of hem- lock in 399 b.c. hempen fever see comment Death on the gallows, on a hempen rope. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Government Printing Office Often shortened to HMSO. hessian, n. burlap HGV Acronym. heavy goods vehicle hi!, interj. approx. Inf. hey! hello! Inf. Designed to call attention; often a remonstrance. Can be a greeting, as in Amer- ica. hiccup, n. hitch Slang. A snarl, any sudden obstruction that interferes with one’s plans. hide, n. hiding place Of a specialized type—for the observation of wild life. It is sometimes used also to mean ‘hunting blind.’ 172 he bought the farm hidey-hole, n. Inf. hideaway hiding to nothing. See (be) on a hiding to nothing High Court, n. see comment Also known as the High Court of Justice. The supreme court dealing with civil law cases. Highlands, n., pl. see comment A mountainous region in northern Scotland. highly-strung high-strung See Appendix I.A.3. High Street Main Street The British commonly name the principal thoroughfare of their villages and towns The High Street, and in referring to it, they still retain the definite article (see Appen- dix I.A.2). British High Streets are about as common as American Main Streets. high table, n. see comment The table in the dining room of an academic institution at which the teaching staff sit. The term is used mostly in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, where staff and students take meals together. high tea light supper High tea includes something cooked: eggs or sausages or Welsh rarebit or any combination of these. It is the equivalent of a light supper, and is eaten early in the evening. Hilary. See under term. hip, n. Inf. the blues Inf. Also used as a transitive verb meaning to ‘give the blues’ to someone, i.e., to ‘depress’ him. As a noun, it is sometimes spelled hyp, revealing its derivation (hypochondria). Now often called the pip. See also (the) hump. hire. See under engage. hire-and-drive, n. rent-a-car hire-purchase, n. installment plan Also known colloquially as the never-never, suggesting that the final payments are never made. Also, that which is repossessed is known as hire-purchase snatch- back. hissy fit, n. Inf. tantrum hit (someone) all over the shop, Inf. Inf. run rings around (someone) hit for six. See under six. Hitler’s War World War II Inf. See also Great War. Hitler’s War 173 hit off, Inf. mimic accurately hive off split off Inf. Used of a group that splits off from the main organization, like a swarm of bees deserting the hive or a group of employees leaving their jobs in a company to start their own company. HMSO. See Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. hoarding, n. billboard The primary meaning of this word (apart from its use as present participle of hoard) is ‘construction site fence,’ the roughly built temporary type, on which people are fond of posting notices despite the customary advice to the contrary, and through the holes or chinks of which people are fond of peering. No Hoarding is not an injunction in times of shortages of commodities; it means Post No Bills, which sometimes appears as Stick No Bills. hob, n. range In other words, the kitchen appliance used for stove-top cooking. See also cooker. hockey, n. field hockey To a Briton hockey means ‘field hockey’; to an American, ‘ice hockey.’ If a Briton wants to talk about the type played on ice, he calls it ice hockey. If the American means the game played on the ground, he says field hockey. hogget, n. yearling sheep In certain British country dialects the name hogget is applied to a young sheep before the first shearing of its coat. hoick, v.t. jerk Slang. Particularly, to raise or hoist with a jerk. The noun hoick comes from rowing slang: a jerk at the end of a poorly executed stroke. hoist, n. freight elevator See also lift; elevator. holdall, n. carryall hold a watching brief. See under watching brief. hold on! just a minute! In Britain, an interjection, without the sense of ‘wait!’ or ‘be patient!’ or ‘hold your horses!’, though it has these meanings as well. hold the baby Slang. hold the bag Slang. Usually in the phrase be left holding the baby. hold the ring stay out of it Inf. To hold the ring, or keep the ring, is to stay out of a situation or to remain on the sideline. The expression is also used in the context of keeping third parties from interfering in a fight. The ropes forming the prize ring in the old days were not attached to posts but were held by the spectators, thus forming the ring. 174 hit off [...]...Honourable 1 75 hold-up, n traffic jam; delay Inf Any delay, whether as a result of heavy traffic, fog, road construction, etc hole-and-corner, adj underhand Inf A hole-and-corner man is a shady character or operator, and hole-and-corner work is shadiness generally hole-in-the-corner, adj., Inf played down Imparting a slight connotation of shabbiness The wedding had a hole-in-the-corner air holiday, n vacation... two branches of a cleft stick are like the horns of a dilemma in a flap, Inf Inf het up in a flat spin Slang rattled Slang Usually in the expression going into a flat spin, meaning agitated or panicstricken in a fuzz, Slang Slang in a tizzy in aid of for (used for) What’s that in aid of? ‘What’s that for?’—asked by someone pointing to an object whose function is unclear Can also be asked about intangibles... Also called bath chair and wheeled chair Now obsolete inverted commas wheelchair quotation marks invigilator n proctor at school examinations To invigilate is to keep vigil, i.e., watch over students during examinations ironmonger n hardware dealer I say! gosh, wow! Old-fashioned but often heard It might be paraphrased in certain situations as That’s amazing! -ish, adv somewhat; sort of; rather; about... income and/or capital are geared to the British cost-of-living index (the UK General Index of Retail Prices—RPI for short) Index-linked is sometimes shortened to indexed, and the process has been dubbed indexation, which can be applied to wages and salaries as well Indian See red Indian Indian meal corn meal An old-fashioned term, little used nowadays, just as Indian corn is little used to mean what Americans... takes a dependent clause I’m easy (about it) It’s all the same to me Inf I’m easy (about it), in answer to a question posing a dilemma or an alternative, e.g., Would you rather I came at 10:00 or 11:00? means I don’t care, or It’s all the same to me I’m easy about it has a British equivalent in I don’t mind Usually shortened to I’m easy See also mind, 2 immersion heater hot water heater An immersion heater... like a shout or a trip in a state Similar to in a tizzy in a tizzy She was in a tizzy because she couldn’t find her train ticket Inf worried, anxious Inf upset, flustered 182 in a way; in a great way in a way; in a great way See way in (someone’s) bad books Inf in dutch with (someone) Inf Variant: in (someone’s) black books Synonymous with in the cart in baulk, balk Inf Meaning ‘in difficulties.’ in care... profession In Britain a client instructs a solicitor, that is, engages him In America a client retains, engages, or hires a lawyer The term is also used in accountancy and with estate agents insulating tape, n electrician’s tape intake, n entrants Inf Those recently taken in Covers entrants into a university, the ministry, the armed forces, etc The slang American equivalent in military and sports usage would... Tacked on to an adjective or adverb, this suffix adds an attenuating nuance, with the same force as placing somewhat, fairly, or sort of before the word, or about or around in expressions of quantity or time Americans are familiar with -ish after 186 I shall be glad if you will adjectives of color: reddish, greenish, or of general age: youngish, oldish But the British are prone to add -ish to almost... sometimes have fireplaces as much as eight or ten feet wide, with a grate or stove in the center from which the smoke runs into a narrow flue Comfortable chairs can be placed on either side, within the fireplace ingrowing, adj ingrown Referring to toenails or facial hair The Americans seem resigned to a fait accompli inspectorate 183 in hand 1 at one’s disposal 2 under control 1 As in, Aberdeen still has... hey! (what’s going on?) (Accent on the first syllable.) It is not only a simple greeting; it can also be an expression of surprise—what’s happening here? hum and ha, Inf Sound of hesitation Inf hem and haw humane society lifesaving service A humane society man would be called a lifeguard in America A humane society in America is a benevolent organization for the care and shelter of pet animals humble . too, meaning ‘one stem’ or ‘stalk.’ have a bash at Slang. take a shot at Slang. To have a bash at something is to give it a try. Synonymous with have a. mind to. See minded to have an early night, Inf. go to bed early have a quid each way. See under each way have a read be reading Inf. To have a read is